A2 courseworkA2 coursework

What do I have to do?What do I have to do?

What is required?What is required?

You have to carry out a piece of research You have to carry out a piece of research that is related to the specificationthat is related to the specification

You may use primary or secondary data You may use primary or secondary data collection.collection.

Overall word limit is 3500 wordsOverall word limit is 3500 words You can carry out your AS proposal or do You can carry out your AS proposal or do

something else.something else. AO1 marks 24 out of the 60 A02 36 out of AO1 marks 24 out of the 60 A02 36 out of

the 60the 60

What are the sections?What are the sections?

Rationale (hypothesis/ aim)Rationale (hypothesis/ aim) ContextContext MethodologyMethodology EvidenceEvidence EvaluationEvaluation

Also need to include a contents page, a Also need to include a contents page, a bibliography and a photocopied page from bibliography and a photocopied page from your research diary.your research diary.

What should I do first?What should I do first?

Read the ethical guidelinesRead the ethical guidelines Read the mark schemeRead the mark scheme Check the areas covered by the Check the areas covered by the

specificationspecification Check your AS cswk and the marks it Check your AS cswk and the marks it

receivedreceived

Ethical guidelinesEthical guidelines

The most important cover:The most important cover: The wellbeing of those taking part in The wellbeing of those taking part in

researchresearch Rights to privacyRights to privacy Anonymity and confidentialityAnonymity and confidentiality Not bringing sociology into disrepute Not bringing sociology into disrepute

Research DiaryResearch Diary Make a brief record of any key decisions, Make a brief record of any key decisions,

changes and problems that occur and date changes and problems that occur and date them. them.

In the case of problems record what solutions In the case of problems record what solutions you select.you select.

Treat the diary as a way of showing the Treat the diary as a way of showing the examiner how you developed you skills and examiner how you developed you skills and awareness as a sociologist. awareness as a sociologist.

It can be very useful in doing your evaluation It can be very useful in doing your evaluation because it helps you look back at the key because it helps you look back at the key stages of the project , what went well and what stages of the project , what went well and what didn’t.didn’t.

TheoryTheory

It is important to make links with theory at It is important to make links with theory at certain points. certain points.

Usually this is connecting your method and a Usually this is connecting your method and a perspective in sociology. perspective in sociology.

You can also link it with objectivity. This is You can also link it with objectivity. This is difficult to achieve using some methods and difficult to achieve using some methods and when dealing with controversial topics.when dealing with controversial topics.

You will not get marks for generalised points You will not get marks for generalised points – they have to be relevant to your study.– they have to be relevant to your study.

Mark schemeMark scheme

You will be given a copy of thisYou will be given a copy of this Aim to cover the requirements for Aim to cover the requirements for

the top band in each sectionthe top band in each section

SpecificationSpecification

Check what you want to do is Check what you want to do is covered in the specification.covered in the specification.

If you discover something criminal If you discover something criminal you must report it as you, me and you must report it as you, me and the moderator would be committing the moderator would be committing as crime if we didn’t. as crime if we didn’t.

Therefore avoid asking about Therefore avoid asking about underage drinking, drug taking etcunderage drinking, drug taking etc

Research tipsResearch tips Keep a diary and note in it any ideas. Jot down when Keep a diary and note in it any ideas. Jot down when

things go wrong- this will help your evaluationthings go wrong- this will help your evaluation Ensure it has a clear sociological focus (pick from Ensure it has a clear sociological focus (pick from

the spec)the spec) Keep the hyp simple/ limited. It is then easier to Keep the hyp simple/ limited. It is then easier to

carry out and keep to the word limit.carry out and keep to the word limit. Make your aim specific.Make your aim specific. Keep referring back to your aim- all sections should Keep referring back to your aim- all sections should

link to it.link to it. Spend time choosing appropriate contexts. Show Spend time choosing appropriate contexts. Show

why they link to your research. Keep linking them in why they link to your research. Keep linking them in to the rest of the piece, refer to them when to the rest of the piece, refer to them when designing your research and show how they were designing your research and show how they were proved or refuted by your research in your evidence proved or refuted by your research in your evidence and evaluation.and evaluation.

Choose only one method that is appropriate to your Choose only one method that is appropriate to your aim. Use al the info you collect otherwise what was aim. Use al the info you collect otherwise what was the point?the point?

More tipsMore tips Choose sample carefully, explaining how it will be Choose sample carefully, explaining how it will be

representative. Where are you going to find these representative. Where are you going to find these people?people?

Do a pilot study and explain how it altered your Do a pilot study and explain how it altered your methodmethod

Give clear reasons for all your choices and decisions. Give clear reasons for all your choices and decisions. Include practical, theoretical and ethical aspects of Include practical, theoretical and ethical aspects of your choices and decisions.your choices and decisions.

Allow sufficient time to do your research. Meet Allow sufficient time to do your research. Meet deadlines.deadlines.

When writing up evidence, refer your findings to the When writing up evidence, refer your findings to the context. If you can’t why did you pick it to begin context. If you can’t why did you pick it to begin with?with?

Don’t be afraid to change- you can put new things Don’t be afraid to change- you can put new things into your context after your research if its helpful to into your context after your research if its helpful to what you want to say. what you want to say.

The moderator hasn’t heard you talk to me – make it The moderator hasn’t heard you talk to me – make it clear you understand what you have included.clear you understand what you have included.

Stick to the word limit.Stick to the word limit.

RationaleRationale

This provides a framework for the whole This provides a framework for the whole project and needs to be referred to again project and needs to be referred to again later in your work.later in your work.

It is basically the personal and sociological It is basically the personal and sociological reasons for selecting your topic.reasons for selecting your topic.

It also includes an identification of the It also includes an identification of the sociological debates and issues likely to be sociological debates and issues likely to be involved, a clear aim/ hypothesis with involved, a clear aim/ hypothesis with specific objectives and some initial specific objectives and some initial thoughts on your expectations thoughts on your expectations

REASONS:REASONS: Personal interest is not enough.Personal interest is not enough. You could have studied it.You could have studied it. You could have seen it reported in the You could have seen it reported in the

media.media. Political/ social policy from Political/ social policy from

government.government. ID SOC DEBATES:ID SOC DEBATES: How is the issue chosen relevant to How is the issue chosen relevant to

sociology?sociology? This could be a brief are as that needs This could be a brief are as that needs

re-writing later.re-writing later.

DEVELOPING A HYP:DEVELOPING A HYP: Hyp is a statement to be proven, but Hyp is a statement to be proven, but

you could have an overall aim you could have an overall aim instead. instead.

Once you have this you can give a Once you have this you can give a series of objectives – a list of tasks series of objectives – a list of tasks that need to be done before final that need to be done before final conclusions are drawn. conclusions are drawn.

When reviewing your rationale later it When reviewing your rationale later it might be that you couldn’t do some of might be that you couldn’t do some of your objectives – discuss this in your your objectives – discuss this in your evaluation. Also say whether your evaluation. Also say whether your initial expectations were accurate. initial expectations were accurate.

ContextContext You must point how it is relevant to You must point how it is relevant to

your aims and explain this concisely.your aims and explain this concisely. Can start by explaining the issues your Can start by explaining the issues your

background reading has covered. background reading has covered. The number of sources you use will The number of sources you use will

depend on the topic and availability of depend on the topic and availability of secondary data. secondary data.

Highlight relevant sections and / or Highlight relevant sections and / or make your own notes on them.make your own notes on them.

Presenting the contextPresenting the context Can use heading which relate to your objectives.Can use heading which relate to your objectives. You can quote the sources.You can quote the sources. You can integrate the name of the source into You can integrate the name of the source into

your writing.your writing. Demonstrate evaluation throughout your cswk.Demonstrate evaluation throughout your cswk. You can evaluate the pieces of secondary data.You can evaluate the pieces of secondary data. Links to the hyp/ aim should be made explicit.Links to the hyp/ aim should be made explicit. In the conclusion paragraph highlight your skills In the conclusion paragraph highlight your skills

of interpretation and application by summing up of interpretation and application by summing up what you have learnt from the background what you have learnt from the background material. Do you need to review your aims?material. Do you need to review your aims?

MethodologyMethodology Show that you have chosen the most appropriate Show that you have chosen the most appropriate

method for your aim and implemented it with skill and method for your aim and implemented it with skill and sensitivity. sensitivity.

This section is therefore a justification of the method This section is therefore a justification of the method and an explanation of how you carried it out. So it and an explanation of how you carried it out. So it should contain:should contain:

An explanation of the advantages & disadvantages of An explanation of the advantages & disadvantages of applying different methods to your project.applying different methods to your project.

A description of your justification of your choice of A description of your justification of your choice of methodology (theoretical perspective?)methodology (theoretical perspective?)

A detailed account to planning you method, inc A detailed account to planning you method, inc sampling, ethics, and operationalising concepts and sampling, ethics, and operationalising concepts and pilotingpiloting

Drafts of questionnaires etc.Drafts of questionnaires etc. Evaluation of what you have discussed. Evaluation of what you have discussed.

EvidenceEvidence This is your findings. It should This is your findings. It should

contain:contain: Clear presentation of your resultsClear presentation of your results References to the RationaleReferences to the Rationale References to how your findings References to how your findings

relate t the information you have relate t the information you have used. used.

Evaluation of the points as they Evaluation of the points as they arise.arise.

Evidence adviceEvidence advice

Check back over the methodology to see if Check back over the methodology to see if everything was completed as planned. If there everything was completed as planned. If there have been changes discuss them now.have been changes discuss them now.

Summarise what you findings reveal. Reduce it Summarise what you findings reveal. Reduce it to a manageable size, not being afraid of to a manageable size, not being afraid of rejecting some. Try different methods of rejecting some. Try different methods of arranging the material.arranging the material.

No tabular info should be included without an No tabular info should be included without an explanation of how it fits in with the rationale. explanation of how it fits in with the rationale.

If some data contradicted your rationale then If some data contradicted your rationale then face up to it and discuss it!face up to it and discuss it!

EvaluationEvaluation This pulls everything together. You will This pulls everything together. You will

have evaluated throughout but you must have evaluated throughout but you must end coherently tying everything together. end coherently tying everything together.

It usually contains:It usually contains: An evaluation of each stage of the project An evaluation of each stage of the project

(could include theoretical perspectives)(could include theoretical perspectives) Evaluation of key issues and themesEvaluation of key issues and themes References throughout to the rationaleReferences throughout to the rationale A clear account of your final conclusions. A clear account of your final conclusions.

CSWK checklistCSWK checklist RATIONALE: HAVE I….RATIONALE: HAVE I…. Kept the focus clear?Kept the focus clear? Checked that the focus remains narrow Checked that the focus remains narrow

and manageable?and manageable? Used some key sociological concepts to Used some key sociological concepts to

demonstrate sociological awareness?demonstrate sociological awareness? CONTEXT: HAVE I….CONTEXT: HAVE I…. Used a variety of different sources?Used a variety of different sources? Made sure that each source id related to Made sure that each source id related to

the rationale?the rationale? Evaluated the sources?Evaluated the sources?

METHODOLOGY. HAVE I…METHODOLOGY. HAVE I… Defined the method clearly?Defined the method clearly? Explained why I am using it?Explained why I am using it? Included key details of the method?Included key details of the method? Linked the discussions to my own coursework?Linked the discussions to my own coursework? EVIDENCE. HAVE I…EVIDENCE. HAVE I… Presented the findings clearly?Presented the findings clearly? Analysed and interpreted the evidence?Analysed and interpreted the evidence? Related results to the rationale and any Related results to the rationale and any

appropriate background reading?appropriate background reading? EVALUATION. HAVE I…EVALUATION. HAVE I… Kept the rationale central to my discussion?Kept the rationale central to my discussion? Reflected on what it was like to conduct real Reflected on what it was like to conduct real

research?research? Suggested further avenues for research?Suggested further avenues for research?

HAVE I included…HAVE I included… A bibliography?A bibliography? Any appendices needed?Any appendices needed? A page from your research diary?A page from your research diary? The word count? Is it to the limit?The word count? Is it to the limit?